Thoughts please...

Today I got berated by a family member via instant messaging (I wasn't at home at the time) because they had tried to "call" me four times in two months (not including yesterday & today) via something similar to Skype, but I didn't answer. Either I wasn't home or I didn't hear the incoming "call". I didn't "call" them back when I saw I'd missed them though either. None of these calls took place via a regular phone, cell or otherwise.

Am I that wrong in what I've (not) done for their behavior to be justified??

I think they are overreacting a bit, especially if they only called a few times in the past 2 months. They should understand that you can't be around a computer 24/7, and that sometimes you just might not want to talk. They should respect your wishes and stop hounding you about it. So you definitely aren't in the wrong there.

But i'd also add - if they have other ways to contact you (regular cellphone, email, or otherwise), that they should consider using them too. Berating you for that is actually out of order if they did.

all people are dysfunctional at best and don't always communicate in the way they intend. in other words, they come across one way when their intent is something else. is it possible the family member was concerned about you and was reacting out of fear that something had happened to you?